Greatest Underachiever Champion ...

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by he grant, Nov 6, 2011.


  1. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

    25,430
    9,415
    Jul 15, 2008
    When I review the heavyweight champions none stand out as under achiever more than Jack Dempsey ... I feel he had the skill set to be far more than he was in the ring ... he regressed as champ when he could have graduated ... more to come but thoughts welcome ...
     
  2. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

    56,098
    10,504
    Jul 28, 2009
    We all know why. Doc Brown (not the rapper) went back in time and told him to chill, because he was getting into Bert Sugar's top ten p4p list no matter what he did. Jack didn't have any reason to bother after that. His dreams had been realized to the fullest.
     
  3. GDG

    GDG Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,663
    88
    Jun 2, 2009

    :lol::lol::lol:

    Can't see Doc Brown breaking the time-space continuem like that though BE - he knows better!!
     
  4. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    112,986
    48,067
    Mar 21, 2007
    Roy Jones, Jack Johnson, Midget Wolgast, Floyd Mayweather, Charley Burley etc.
     
  5. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

    38,042
    7,558
    Jul 28, 2004
  6. DonBoxer

    DonBoxer The Lion! Full Member

    8,063
    34
    Apr 28, 2010
  7. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

    10,369
    12,705
    Mar 2, 2006
    Roy Jones, Bernard Hopkins, Bob Fitzsimmons, Jimmy Ellis, Ayub Kalule.
     
  8. Duodenum

    Duodenum Boxing Junkie Full Member

    11,604
    290
    Apr 18, 2007
    Most likely Dempsey's own choice for this thread. Jack was convinced if Maxie had his head screwed on straight that he coulda licked a thousand Bombers.
     
  9. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

    38,042
    7,558
    Jul 28, 2004
    :deal
     
  10. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

    81,366
    21,814
    Sep 15, 2009
    My 4 picks are the 4 who could have gone down as the greatest in the divisions history had they fought their peers:

    Johnson (championship defences against langford, jeannette, mcvey and smith)

    Dempsey (victories over langford, wills and mcvey)

    Holmes (unification matches against any of the early wba champs combined with a defence against page to ensure he keeps all 3 belts as well as defences against thomas and berbick at the end of his reign)

    Bowe (defending against lewis, fights against moorer, lewis, tyson, holmes, foreman, golota and then retiring in 99)
     
  11. heerko koois

    heerko koois Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    24,135
    17,711
    Apr 26, 2006
    Great pick ! second place goes to Tyson ....
     
  12. sugarsean

    sugarsean Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,496
    14
    Jun 2, 2009
    All great but for to short a period

    Benny Lynch

    Mike Tyson

    Randolph Turpin

    John Conteh
     
  13. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,579
    27,236
    Feb 15, 2006
    Prety much on the money.

    If Dempsey had been a more active champion, he could have built a resume which would stand scrutiny alongside the best today.
     
  14. Duodenum

    Duodenum Boxing Junkie Full Member

    11,604
    290
    Apr 18, 2007
    I don't think he would have gotten a lot of mileage out of beating an aging Wills and outsized and outpowered Greb during the early 1920s, and there wasn't otherwise much of a contender class in the HW division at the time. Yes, the two Harrys should have gotten title shots, but even if Jack had knocked them out impressively, I'm convinced those wins would have been derided for the aforementioned reasons.

    No, I don't see any way his resume as a champion could have stacked up to Marciano's, Ali's, or that of Louis, no matter who he fought or how often he defended the title.
     
  15. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,579
    27,236
    Feb 15, 2006
    If he defends the title more often, then he builds up his argument based on volume alone.